THE number of motorists killed or seriously injured on Oxfordshire’s roads has increased for the third year in a row.

The new figures revealed that 378 people were killed or seriously injured during crashes across the county in 2014, an increase of 51 from the previous year’s total of 327.

The number of people killed on the roads has risen from 19 to 26 during the same period, while the number of people seriously injured increased from 308 to 352.

In 2012, 307 people were killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads.

Since 2010 a total of 1,762 people have been killed or badly hurt in traffic accidents, with 8,112 minor injuries.

The highest number of road deaths in the past five years was 41, recorded in 2010, with 354 motorists seriously injured in the same year.

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Paul Smith said despite the increase in road deaths last year the number of people killed has fallen dramatically since a high of 99 in 1978.

He said: “Over the years people in Oxfordshire have clearly taken personal responsibility to drive more safely, wear their seat belts and obey the laws of the road.

“Vehicles themselves are also increasing in safety all the time.

“Our road safety and fire and rescue teams will do all they can to make sure people have the right information in terms of staying safe on the roads – for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

“However, in the end it is for people to use their own common sense, obey the law and stay safe.”